Five die violently in 24 hours Gunshots kill four

man, 20, was stabbed

Five people were killed in a spate of unrelated shootings and stabbings around Baltimore yesterday and Wednesday.

A 5-year-old girl was wounded when a stray bullet was fired into her Westport home.

Four of the victims died of gunshot wounds in city neighborhoods.

In West Baltimore, three people were shot in separate incidents within 15 minutes.

Lt. Robert Biemiller of the Violent Crimes Task Force said the number of shootings in Baltimore dropped 20 percent during the first two months of this year, compared with the same time in 1996.

But homicides continue to rise. This year, 53 people have been killed in the city, compared with 45 at the same time last year.

The city finished 1996 with 331 slayings, up from 325 in 1995.

The most recent shooting occurred about 3 p.m. yesterday, when Eastern District police found the body of Shawn Smith, 23, of the 1500 block of N. Patterson Park Ave. lying in the 1300 block of N. Washington St. He had been shot several times in the upper torso.

About 1 a.m. yesterday, Antonio Curtis, 17, of the 800 block of N. Lakewood Ave. was found shot several times in the 2700 block of E. Madison St. Police said Curtis, who died at 3: 42 a.m., was shot during a robbery.

The spate of violence started about 2: 40 a.m. Wednesday, when Ashford T. Wilt Jr., 20, was stabbed outside his house in the 600 block of Scott St.

About 6: 30 p.m. Wednesday, two men tried to hold up the Penn-Dol Pharmacy at Pennsylvania Avenue and Dolphin Street.

Store owner Brian L. Schumer, 38, fatally shot one of the robbers, whom police identified as John Naylor, 32, of the 300 block of Whitridge Ave. in Charles Village.

Police have not filed charges against Schumer. The state's attorney's office is investigating.

At 7: 45 p.m. Gloria Little, 46, of West Baltimore reported being shot once in each leg after hearing five or six shots while walking in the 2000 block of W. Lanvale St. She was in good condition yesterday at Shock Trauma.

Eight minutes later, Tavon Andre McFadden, 16, also of West Baltimore was shot in the 1700 block of Westwood Ave. Police arrested his 15-year-old cousin, Robert Perkins, and charged him with attempted murder.

McFadden was in critical condition at Shock Trauma.

And a minute before 8 p.m., an officer patrolling near Gilmor and Baltimore streets heard gunshots, rushed to the corner, saw dozens of people running away and found the body of Clarence Woodley Jr., 23, of the 200 block of S. Stricker St., who had been fatally shot.

About 9 p.m., James Wilson of Northeast Baltimore, who turned 32 Wednesday, was stabbed at his house, police said. Wilson ran several blocks and collapsed face down at a bus stop, with the knife protruding from his back.

He told police that a female acquaintance, before stabbing him, said: "I'll give you a birthday present you'll never forget." Police were searching for the suspect.

Wilson was in critical condition at Johns Hopkins Hospital.

About 9: 40 p.m. a stray bullet went through the door of 5-year-old Kaprice Dollar's house in Westport, police said.

But they are not sure if the girl was struck by a bullet or a piece of wood from the door.

"She has a wound to her thigh," Biemiller said. "There was a hole in the door of the house that would be consistent with bullet damage. A neighbor reports hearing a pop sound."

He said the girl was being treated at the University of Maryland Medical Center and her injury was not life-threatening.